All the latest Shadow Writer news and announcements.
Current news can be viewed here
2022 news can be viewed here
2021 news can be viewed here
2020 news can be viewed here
2019 news can be viewed here
2018 news can be viewed here
2017 news can be viewed here
2016 news can be viewed here
2015 news can be viewed here
2014 news can be viewed here
2013 news can be viewed here
2012 news can be viewed here
2011 news can be viewed here
2010 news can be viewed here
2009 news can be viewed here
2008 news can be viewed here
2007 news can be viewed here
2006 news can be viewed here
2005 news can be viewed here
2004 news can be viewed here
December 2003: Extra
(Above: Paul with Christopher Fowler)
Photographs from the 2003 BFS FantasyCon have now been uploaded onto the events section. You can access them by clicking here
---------------------------------------
Finally, a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all visitors of the Shadow Writer website. See you again in 2004!!
--------------------------------------------------------------
December 2003
In November Paul was interviewed by Crystal Serenades for their monthly online magazine. The piece was designed to encourage new and emerging writers, offering help and advice to get into print. The Welsh publishing company's books include Lythgoe by Terry Hernon, which is a novel based on the life of a young lad who is dragged up in Manchester and then goes on to box, and a novella about anorexia by seventeen year old Katie Metcalfe who recently appeared on the British breakfast show GMTV. One of their previous interviewees was Steve Alten, bestselling author of the 'Jurassic Shark' book Meg (www.stevealten.com) and Paul's interview will be reprinted on the SW site soon.
---------------------------------------
Guest writer for December is newcomer Tim Meads who is creating quite a stir in genre circles. You can read his unnerving short story 'Poor Diedra' by clicking here
---------------------------------------
Paul reports that the British Fantasy Society's FantasyCon 2003 was quite an experience. Three days of chat, drink and panels rounded off with the announcement of this year's British Fantasy Award-winners (you can find a short film of this at the Purple Rage site by clicking here). Present at the weekend were writers such as Ramsey Campbell, Mark Morris, Chaz Brenchley, Stephen Gallagher, Katherine Roberts, Graham Joyce and Tim Lebbon. But the highlight had to be a knockout speech by Guest of Honour Christopher Fowler on the Sunday, who also has great taste when shopping for books according to Paul. Pictures from this event should be uploaded before the end of the month so keep dropping by.
Paul will also be attending the BFS Open Night and Christmas celebration at the Princess Louise in London on Friday December 5th. Be there or be square.
---------------------------------------
As his courses draw to a close for this term, Paul's looking forward to spending some well earned time with family and friends this x-mas. But he is also going to try and finish off some of the projects he has on the go. One is a re-drafting of his 'Opportunity' script, which should be filmed in the near future, and another is his radio play: 'The House on Willow Street'. He has recently just completed a short story, 'Guilty Pleasures' for inclusion in next year's Scriptures of the Damned demon anthology.
--------------------------------------------------------------
November 2003
In October best-selling horror author James Herbert (The Rats, The Magic Cottage and Others) wished Paul and the Terror Tales anthology team all the best with their endeavours. If you know Paul then you'll know he's a massive fan and will probably understand how much this meant to him. Terror Tales # 2 which Paul is editing, features a Herbert retrospective and a review of James' latest novel, Nobody True.
---------------------------------------
Meanwhile the first Terror Tales anthology was given a very positive review by The Alien Online website last month. To quote them: 'Terror Tales # 1 is an enjoyable book, featuring many good stories by a bunch of fine writers...Ford and Kane now have the problem of finding equally good material for the next issue. I'm sure they will prove once again to be not only two fine writers but also two highly capable editors.'
The line-up for Volume 2 in the series is still a closely guarded secret and all Paul would say at present is that he doesn't think readers will be disappointed.
---------------------------------------
Guest Writer for November is D. Harlan Wilson with his surrealistic trip of a story, 'In the Bathroom'. To access this click here
---------------------------------------
Pictures from the FunnyBones book launch in London last month are now in the events section. Click here to go straight to them.
---------------------------------------
And the randomly selected winners of our September FunnyBones competition are G. Marshall from Oregon and Denise Williams from Halifax, who each receive a personally signed copy of the book. Congratulations you two.
---------------------------------------
Paul spent Halloween this year in a heaving Portland Hotel with a group of very merry Terror Scribes. In attendance were former Shadow Writers John B. Ford, Derek Fox, Joe Rattigan (with their partners Lynne, Kath and Gill), Rob Rowntree, Lisa Negus, and up-and-coming SW Tim Meads. In addition to the colourful drinks and staff wearing various grisly outfits, copies of Joe's new collection Ghosts Far From Subtle and Mark West's Strange Tales were on display.
---------------------------------------
Paul will be in Stafford on the weekend of 21st-23rd November for the British Fantasy Society's FantasyCon. The Guest of Honour is the acclaimed writer Christopher Fowler - author of Full Dark House - who is also introducing Paul's next collection, Remote. If you're attending, and see Paul there, be sure to say hello.
---------------------------------------
Last but not least, there's a new addition to the Kane clan. Paul's cousin recently gave birth to a bouncing baby boy called Matthew (pictured above..he's the one on the left). Both mother and son are doing really well. You do realise that your horror street cred has gone completely out of the window now don't you Paul? But ahh, bless.
--------------------------------------------------------------
October 2003: Extra
News about Paul's forthcoming Hellraiser book has been posted on the Clive Barker website, Revelations. The website is a goldmine of Barker related material and information so if you you haven't visited before, why not? The site can be found by clicking here and the news report by clicking here. With huge thanks to Phil and Sarah over at Revelations.
--------------------------------------------------------------
October 2003
We're in a party mood this month as the Shadow Writer site celebrates two years of being online. Launched on Halloween 2001, the official Paul Kane website is still going strong with many more surprises to come in the months ahead. Paul wants to thank everyone who has visited the site in the past and wishes one and all a very happy and safe Halloween 2003!
---------------------------------------
The Whitby-Scarborough photos from May are now online in the events section. To take a look just click here.
---------------------------------------
Guest Writer for this very special Halloween month is the editor of the British Fantasy Society's newsletter, Prism. To read Marie O'Regan's spinetingling voodoo tale 'Samedi's Child' just click here.
---------------------------------------
The interview with Paul conducted for the Dragon's Tail newsletter over the summer has now been added to the permanent Interview section here.
---------------------------------------
Workwise Paul has just recently completed a novella entitled 'Signs of Life'. He has finished editing Shadow Writers Vol. 2, due to be released in the very near future, and has been working on the photography for the cover of the new Top International Horror Anthology. Paul also started back teaching at Chesterfield College in September (below).
---------------------------------------
Collectors' editions of Touching the Flame signed by Paul and Simon Clark are now available through Clarkesworld here. The book dealers have signed copies of the first Shadow Writers anthology for sale here too.
--------------------------------------------------------------
September 2003
Here it is! Paul's new book FunnyBones has just been released in paperback with a stunning full colour cover by Creative Guy Publishing and very nice it looks too. This is Paul's third collection (but his first US/Canadian book) and gathers together all of his humorous horror fiction, from 'Dracula in Love' to 'Yibble' and more. It also incorporates 'The Adventures of Dalton Quayle' and features an unpublished novella called 'Temple of Deadly Danger'. The Shadow Writer site has a couple of signed copies to give away if you can answer this question, who are the fan favourite deceased singers plastered all over the cover? For a clue have a look in the Kanography section where you can also find more details on the contents of FunnyBones. Send your answers to Julie at the following address julieoakes@rock.com by October 15th 2003.
---------------------------------------
Also released by Creative Guy the first in a series of Dalton Quayle e-book extras. The Q-Files Vol. 1 contains the first two Quayle adventures, an exclusive interview with Paul, an article on TV comedy and other additional material including a Kane Gallery of Illustrations. You can order this directly from the publisher or by visiting any of their online stockists: WH Smiths Online, Yahoo, BookSelecta, Fictionwise, Project Pulp etc. See Kanography for ordering details in the US/UK and even Korea!
---------------------------------------
You can read Paul's story 'Suit of Lies' online at The Wildclown Chronicles now. The tale is introduced by some breathtaking computer animation and music. Just click here to access it, although you will need Flash to get the full benefit. This story, Paul informs us, was actually loosely inspired by a lyric in the song 'Gone' from the U2 album Pop.
---------------------------------------
Paul's story 'Nightmare on 34th Street' has just been published in Scary Holiday Tales released in e-book format in August with a trade paperback version to follow this month. The anthology contains horror stories based around holidays like Christmas, Thanksgiving and Easter, and was published by Double Dragon Books.
---------------------------------------
This month's Guest Writer on the site is the Australian author Steve Gerlach with his shocking tale 'Schism' inspired by the screaming mouth picture in the paintings section. Just click here to go straight to it.
---------------------------------------
You can also find an interview with Steve in the interview section where he talks candidly about his fiction and work for the 'Richard Laymon Kills' website. To access this click on the 'Interviews' button or simply click here.
---------------------------------------
The long overdue Whitby-Scarborough pics should be heading your way sometime next month along with some from the Scribes gathering in London on 4th October. But here's a photo of Paul on a pirate ship to tide you over. Not like him to be wearing shades is it?
--------------------------------------------------------------
August 2003
The big news this month is the release of Terror Tales # 1 edited by Paul and John B. Ford. This glossy trade paperback revival of the 90s 'magazine' is already creating quite a stir in genre circles. And with contributions from authors such as Christopher Fowler, Simon Clark, Steve Harris, Neal Asher, Teri Jacobs, Tim Lebbon, Stephen Gallagher and all the Terror Scribes competition winners it's not hard to see why. Weighing in at over 70,000 words, the book also includes reviews and regular features such as 'Dark Debate'. You can find more details about the contents in the Kanography section of the site.
---------------------------------------
Prime Books' Tourniquet Heart, edited by Christopher C. Teague, has been nominated for best anthology in this year's British Fantasy Awards. The collection includes Paul's story 'The Anniversary'. The winner will be announced at an award ceremony at FantasyCon in November which Paul will be attending.
---------------------------------------
August's Guest Writer on the site is Berlin-based Thomas Ligotti favourite Eddie M. Angerhuber. You can read her subtle and strange 'The Heart of Darkness' by clicking here. Next month: a story and interview with Richard Laymon aficionado, Steven Gerlach, so don't miss that one.
---------------------------------------
A new link has been added in the links section for 'Creative Juices'. This is a radio scripting service set up by Claire Wood, one of Paul's Creative Writing Students. You can access the site via the links section or by clicking here.
---------------------------------------
Paul has been hinting at a new project recently featuring several top name horror authors. It will revolve around his most popular cult creations and is planned for release next year. We can hardly control ourselves at the news.
---------------------------------------
As promised Paul's haunting story 'Kindred Spirits' has been published in the seventh volume of Maynard and Sims' Darkness Rising anthology. This is, without a doubt, one of the most moving tales he's written. The collection is available from all the usual places like Shocklines, Amazon and from the publishers directly.
--------------------------------------------------------------
Mid-July 2003: Extra
The July/August Issue of Writers' Forum has just come out which contains a brand new Kane interview with bestselling author Simon Clark. Timed to coincide with the release of Simon's new novel from Hodder and Stoughton, Vampyrrhic Rites, the interview also has tips for breaking into the horror market. Copies are £3 and can be bought from your local newsagents or from the Writers' Forum website here.
---------------------------------------
You can also read a second longer interview with Simon on the Shadow Writer site in the Interview section. Or simply click here to go straight to it.
--------------------------------------------------------------
July 2003
The Derelict of Death has set sail again! As part of their 'Masterworks' series, Rainfall Books have reprinted this collector's item novella (written by John B. Ford and Simon Clark) as a trade paperback and have included other classic stories and poems this time. Authors featured include Sue Phillips, Mark Samuels, Paul Finch and, of course, a certain Mr Kane with one of his most popular stories 'Astral'. It's already made an appearance on Shocklines bestseller list, so if you want to get hold of a copy you'd better get your skates on.
---------------------------------------
A few reviews have appeared of the Stoker nominated - and TV plugged - Cemetery Poets hardback which includes Paul's poetry (see previous months for details). The first was from Baryon Magazine # 90 and said: 'Here is a collection of all types of poems: short ones, long ones, rhyming ones and prose ones...Talented writers David Browlin, Peggy J. Shumate, Megan Powell, Scott Urban, Paul Kane...and others take you on a tour that ranges from the soul to the grave, with all points in between.'
The second was from Deviant Minds: 'Cemetery Poets is a collection of grim, dark, and sometimes downright disturbing images, with occasional gallows humour showing through...'
And the third came from The Hacker's Source where Paul was singled out as one of the favourites: 'Cemetery Poets is the end-all collection of horror poetry...packed with poems and vignettes that detail torture, pain, internal and external struggle, deformity, evil, and then some...while Paul Kane offers his ever clever horror scenarios!'
---------------------------------------
This month's Guest Writer is also a Cemetery Poet. You can read Susanne S. Brydenbaugh's excellent dark fantasy story 'Cain's Moon' by clicking here
---------------------------------------
The links section has been tidied up this month to get rid of all the dead links and add some new ones. These include Horrorfind (Brian Keene's well known site), Double Dragon Books, Brutal Dreamer's domain, the official Clive Barker site and a site devoted to Chesterfield College, where Paul works as a lecturer in Art and Design and Creative Writing. To visit the links section click here
---------------------------------------
So the cat's well and truly out of the bag now. As reported in their newsletter the Kane film project we've been teasing you about is the Purple Rage production entitled Confidence. To quote from there: 'We are aiming to begin shooting this film, based on a script by Paul (Touching the Flame) Kane, in August. At present we are working on a shooting schedule and the two major locations have been found.' The director is BBC award nominee Martin (Assembly of Rogues) Roberts. Paul is due to have a Hitchcockian cameo as 'Man who opens door'. Will this mark the beginning of a change in career for him to acting we wonder? 'No comment,' Paul told us.
---------------------------------------
For those who have enquired about the sideburned one's Hellraiser book, work should be completed on the project by the end of October 2003. Keep checking the site for more details and for various book launches for other Kane publications.
There's also word on the state of play of 'Kane's Korner' for people who have asked. Due to work and other commitments Paul no longer has time to research and write this monthly column for Terror Tales Online. He is however planning on doing 'specials' for future print versions of TT. And there will be more news about that book's launch either later in July or in August's update. Stay tuned.
--------------------------------------------------------------
June 2003
Paul's story 'The Procession' is included in the sixth volume of Maynard & Sims' Darkness Rising anthology series from Prime Books (available now). He is also lined up to appear in the next volume sometime over the summer with one of his personal favourite stories, the very moving 'Kindred Spirits'.
---------------------------------------
Two Kane interviews were conducted in May. The first was for DDP's Newsletter and this has been reprinted on their website here. The second was for the e-book version of his Dalton Quayle stories, presented as e-extras including illustrations and loads of additional material. In both Paul talks about his work, his life and his inspirations, so if there's anything you ever wanted to know...
---------------------------------------
After three weeks on the bestseller lists at Shocklines, The Evil Entwines, containing an introduction and a collaborative story from Paul, completely sold out of its first print run. Both author John B. Ford and the publishers Hardcastle were said to be overwhelmed by the popularity of the anthology. There are rumours that a follow-up, or possible extended edition, will be put together at some point.
---------------------------------------
June's guest writer on the site is up-and-coming talent Steven Deighan with his story 'Exploration'. Tipped for big things in the future by Paul, you can check out this impressive supernatural tale here
---------------------------------------
While the movie version of 'The Within' remains stalled at the editing and post production stage there is some good news on the film front. A brand new script Paul wrote at Christmas is going into production over the summer. One magazine is keen to follow its progress and there will be more details in coming months about this particular project. In the meantime you can see new 'Within' paintings and storyboards in the film section here
---------------------------------------
Paul took part in a vampire outing at the coast at the end of May. This included a visit to Whitby's atmospheric abbey, a trip on a ghost ship and braving the heights of Scarborough's infamous Terror Towers with its haunted graveyard - below - and Predator on a trampoline!!
More pictures coming soon.
--------------------------------------------------------------
Mid-May 2003: Extra
This exciting news just in: Cemetery Poets: Grave Offerings, which includes a number of Paul's poems, has just been nominated for a prestigious Bram Stoker Award. The hardback collection was published by Double Dragon and edited by Peggy J. Shumate (pictured below).
It features work by many talented authors/poets such as Christina Sng, Kurt Newton and Susanne S. Brydenbaugh (pictured at the top, reading from the book). Coincidentally, Susanne is July's Guest Writer on the site with her story 'Cain's Moon' so watch out for that one.
---------------------------------------
You can now read a shortened version of Paul's speech from the Genes and Society Festival in London at Spiked Online. Just click here to go straight to it.
--------------------------------------------------------------
May 2003
A copy of Touching the Flame was sent to Robert - Freddy Krueger - Englund as a gift while he was attending the 'Dead by Dawn' Film Festival in Edinburgh in April. Robert, over here to promote the new Freddy vs. Jason movie, was said to be very pleased with his present, which had the inscription 'Keep the Blades Sharp' inside.
---------------------------------------
On the subject of gifts, Paul was recently given a caricature drawn by artist Lesley Coombes. We think the likeness is spot on! Other items sent to the author over the past few weeks include an eye fridge magnet that looks uncannily like The Beholder (Paul is using this to pin up his shopping lists) and a Twin Peaks timeline. A big thank you goes out to Sally-Anne Fisher and Richard Harrington.
---------------------------------------
You can now see how Paul got on in London at the Genes and Society event by taking a look at his photo journal. Click here to find out more.
---------------------------------------
May's Guest Writer on the site is Joe Rattigan with his story 'The Hungry Ones'. Click here to go straight to this gruesome thriller.
---------------------------------------
Paul attended the 'unofficial' Evil Entwines book launch dinner at the beginning of May, along with other contributors Simon Clark, Derek Fox and John B. Ford. Alcohol was consumed, many books were signed, and a preview of the new Derelict of Death anthology was also on display. The launch was rounded off nicely with a trip to Waterstones.
---------------------------------------
Paul is still working on the script and artwork for his retitled 'Vortex' horror strip. The first part was set to be finished at the end of last year but work commitments mean this has been delayed. It should be worth the wait though judging by some of the advance panels we've seen.
---------------------------------------
Coming soon... some exciting film news, details of the new Terror Tales anthology Paul is co-editing, and a competition to mark the release of Paul's first US collection FunnyBones.
--------------------------------------------------------------
March/April 2003
The Shadow Writer site has undergone a revamping, with new Interview, Event Photo and News sections, and updated Non-Fiction and Kanography sections.
---------------------------------------
Paul has just started work on a Hellraiser Film Book. The publication will be a detailed examination of Clive Barker's horror movie masterpiece.
---------------------------------------
Paul Kane and John B. Ford's collaborative story 'The Toll' has been published in a trade paperback from Hardcastle called The Evil Entwines. Paul also provided the introduction for the collection, which features Ford working with horror writers such as Ramsey Campbell, Thomas Ligotti, Brian Stableford, Simon Clark, Paul Finch, Derek M. Fox and Tim Lebbon.
To buy The Evil Entwines click here
---------------------------------------
April's Guest Writer is Sarah Crabtree with 'The Afterthought'. Click here to go straight to this superb little chiller.
---------------------------------------
Paul has been asked to speak at The Institute of Ideas' Genes and Society Festival in London in April. He will be on a panel discussing Sci-Fi Futures alongside Sandy Starr, TV Critic for The Sun, and Jason Thorp, Programming Director for the Sci-Fi Channel. The event's media sponsor is The Discovery Channel and the last event, hosted by Jonathan Dimbleby, was a sell-out.
---------------------------------------
You can now read Paul's exclusive interview with AdventureLand and Wulf author Steve Harris in the revamped Interviews section. Click here to check it out
---------------------------------------
Paul has just finished teaching the first term of his Creative Writing programme. Students and tutor enjoyed the experience very much and the next one is due to start in mid May.
---------------------------------------
Work has begun on the editing of Paul's next fiction book Funnybones. The collection, due out in paperback from CGP soon, also incorporates the adventures of his character Dalton Quayle. More news as and when.
---------------------------------------
Several of Paul's poems have just been published in Cemetery Poets: Grave Offerings, out now in hardback from Double Dragon. See Kanography section for more details and a picture of the book's cover.
---------------------------------------
Touching the Flame and Shadow Writers Vol. 1 are now part of the '3 for 2' offer on all fiction at certain W.H. Smith stores, alongside books by authors like Stephen King and John Grisham. Touching the Flame is also still available at all good book stores and online at places such as Shocklines (click here), Andromeda Books (click here or here), Fantastic Literature (click here), Amazon (click here) and others.
You can now read the first few reviews of Shadow Writers Vol 1 (click here, here and here)
Current news can be viewed here
2022 news can be viewed here
2021 news can be viewed here
2020 news can be viewed here
2019 news can be viewed here
2018 news can be viewed here
2017 news can be viewed here
2016 news can be viewed here
2015 news can be viewed here
2014 news can be viewed here
2013 news can be viewed here
2012 news can be viewed here
2011 news can be viewed here
2010 news can be viewed here
2009 news can be viewed here
2008 news can be viewed here
2007 news can be viewed here
2006 news can be viewed here
2005 news can be viewed here
2004 news can be viewed here